PGI study determines effect of fat on pancreas

LUCKNOW: Fat-high triglycerides are not only lethal for the heart but for the pancreas too. This was proven by a study done by doctors of the Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences (SGPGIMS).

The study by Dr Ardha Samantha, Dr Anshu Srivastava, Dr Sonali Verma from the department of endocrinology, Dr Moniak Sen Sharma and Dr Ujjwal Podar from the Department of Paediatric Gastroenterology has been accepted by the Indian Journal of Paediatrics on the subject of ‘White Serum, a clue to diagnosis of acute recurrent pancreatitis’. The study started with a rare cases of Severe hypertriglyceridemia that came to SGPGIMS almost three months ago. The hypertriglyceridemia is a rare cause of acute recurrent pancreatitis (ARP) .

According to Dr Moniak Sen Sharma: “The case started with a four-year-old girl from Orissa. She reached the paediatric gastroenterology department with repeated abdominal pain and vomiting for six months.” There was no history of jaundice, abdominal trauma, or drug intake. Blood sampling showed a white-coloured serum, with elevated triglycerides and total cholesterol of 343 mg/dl.

The treatment

The child was given analgesics and insulin infusion, along with dextrose infusion. The serum triglycerides reduced to 330 mg/dl after 72 hours with complete resolution of pain. However, epigastric pain recurred with an increase in TG on the 3rd day of stopping insulin. A second course of insulin infusion saw disappearance of pain. The child was given omega-3 fatty acid, fenofibrate and niacin. The child recovered after that.